NEWSLETTER

Job With Justice Human Rights Award Celebration.

Photos and Info from JobsWithJustice Human Rights Awards 


The well-attended event of over 500 was held at the MLK Jr. Library in D.C. Angaza's was the first award given out during the two-plus hour program. He was enthusiastically received by the crowd. In his acceptance speech, he spoke about fighting for justice in North Carolina. He also called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Later in the program, Angaza and Nathanette took the stage and got the crowd rocking and responding to "When Justice Speaks", a "GO_GO" music song by the Fruit of Labor.

DRIVEN BY FEAR:

WHY SOME BROOKLYN YOUTH

CARRY GUNS


amsterdamnews.com


“All these systems are basically failing these kids.”


That’s how Elise White of the Center for Justice Innovation (CJI) summarizes the structural failings that underlie the high rates of gun violence in New York’s historically under-supported neighborhoods.

White, who is the CJI’s director of action research, has become very familiar with the impact of these inequities. She and her colleagues have spent the past five years conducting research on gun-carrying practices among young people living in these neighborhoods.


CJI recently published its second study on this topic, “‘Two Battlefields’: ‘Opps,’ Cops, and New York City Youth Gun Culture,” which examined the reasons why Black boys and young men in Brooklyn’s Crown Heights neighborhood carry firearms. 


The study’s name derives from one participant’s description of the dual fears of interpersonal and state violence that the researchers found drove gun-carrying. “It’s like we got to get a gun to protect us from the opps [opposition]. Now we got to protect us from the cops, too, so it’s two battlefields,” he said, according to the researchers.



The research builds on the findings of CJI’s 2020 study, “Gotta Make Your Own Heaven,” which explored gun-carrying practices of Black and Latinx youth living in Brownsville, Brooklyn, Morrisania, the Bronx, and East Harlem in Manhattan. It is also part of a national project, with similar research wrapping up in Wilmington, Delaware; Detroit, Michigan; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 


In total, the study drew from anonymous interviews of 103 participants—primarily Black men—from ages 15 through 24 who said they had carried a gun in the past year (at the time of data collection). CJI Community Research Coordinators Basaime Spate and Javonte Alexander served as the study’s primary interviewers. Both Spate and Alexander have experienced the impacts of gun violence first-hand: As teenagers, they became involved in the street networks (gangs and more informal crews) of Crown Heights.


Originally from New Jersey, Spate said he spent his childhood in foster care, and eventually moved to Florida. He left the system at around 15 and joined a street network instead.


“[I] got real deep involved in that because it treated me more like a family,” he said. 


He then moved up the coast until he settled in New York. He built a new life through the branch of his street network in Crown Heights. There, he met and befriended Alexander, who grew up in the neighborhood.


Both became involved with Save our Streets (SOS) Crown Heights, one of the CJI’s demonstration projects, which employs credible messengers (those who have experience with street networks) to intervene in disputes that could turn violent, and works with high-risk individuals to help them reject violence. Alexander was one of the first participants in the program, and Spate worked there as a violence interrupter and outreach worker.

Read more here.

NOVEMBER 2023 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Wednesday, November 8; 6:30 pm; Nutrition and Mental Health Program at the Southeast Raleigh YMCA at 1436 Rock Quarry Rd. Raleigh, NC. In Parts 1 & 2 we discussed how nutrition and mental health intertwine due to systemic oppression, trauma, and access. We highlighted what those beneficial foods look like and did a cooking demo. We will recap and discuss how we can incorporate and strategize these foods into our lifestyle to promote positive behavior changes. Contact Donnae.Ward@YMCATriangle.org for more information and to register.


Thursday, November 9; World Cultural Cinema Screening of the film “Wilmington on Fire”. Following the viewing, there will be two break-out discussions. One is about white nationalist terrorism, and the other is our 2nd teach-in on how Palestine relates to us. The National Conference of Black Lawyers will report on the growing threat of white nationalist terrorism and the growth of their training camps in NC. RSVP your attendance to (919) 876-7187.


November 9, 16, & 30th; 6:30 PM; Managing Diabetes with Cultural Foods Nutrition and Cooking Class Series; 4-part class series at the Southeast Raleigh YMCA. 1436 Rock Quarry Rd.; Raleigh, NC; taught by registered dietician, Jasmine Westbrooks. Contact: Jasmine@eatwellexchange.org for more info and to register. 


Friday & Saturday, Nov 10-12; Southern Workers Assembly Workers School in Charlotte, NC. This will be another training, strategy, and educational gathering of the SWA. There will be industrial caucus meetings. Contact Ben at info@southernworkers.org.


MARK YOUR CALENDAR NOW!


Mark your calendar for our 2023 Annual Community Kwanzaa Celebration & Karamu Feast. This year it will take place on Saturday, December 30th; 3:00-7:00 PM. If you are interested in helping plan another great celebration, call Nathanette at (919) 876-7187 or email fruitoflaborwcc@netscape.com.


Rescheduled Quilting Classes at the FOLWCC will be held on Saturdays beginning in January 2024. The first class will be from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM; all other classes will be from 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM on January 13 & 27, February 3 & 17, and March 2, 2024. Classes will be taught by an experienced quilter, Cynthia Hayes. Contact her at chayes10@gmail.com to register for class cost and supply list and questions. Space is limited to the first 10 registrants. 

Reserve the Fruit of Labor World Cultural Center for your Special Event!



The Fruit of Labor World Cultural Center is the perfect beautiful venue for your special event. Contact us today for information about our very reasonable rates and availability. Call (919) 876-7187, 919-231-2660 or email fruitoflaborwcc@netscape.com.

Using Art-Music-Books -Films-Discussion at the Cultural Center for Movement Building Slide Presentation


The all-community volunteer-led and run Fruit of Labor World Cultural Center will be celebrating its 25th Birthday this upcoming Juneteenth 2024. We are asking you to join us November - December 2023 in creatively planning this festive, colorful, cultural, and politically educational gathering. 


Join us with YOUR IDEAS, as we celebrate how the Center has for decades used music, art, film, book study groups, poetry, dance, its community historical archives, fellowship -food events, community discussions as well as traditional African American/African holidays to build U.N.I.T.Y. in our community. We are a "community social justice movement building" center that counts on YOU! 


Check out this presentation about the cultural center to describe its work. 


The presentation is here using this link.


Call us to volunteer or make donations ...Donate at www.fruitoflabor.org/donate


Let us know what you think. Thanks!

AVAILABLE NOW!

Music and songs that inspire, engage, and liberate our spirit!


Enjoy Fruit of Labor Singing Ensemble’s Album: State of Emergency


The album is available on

Amazon, Apple Music, iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, iHeart Radio 

and many more streaming services and retailers.